Yunke Shares Soccer Across States, Seasons
By
Pam Shebest
Special for MHSAA.com
April 24, 2017
BANGOR — When it is spring, Dennis Yunke can be found coaching girls soccer in Bangor.
But in the fall, he spends three months in Minnesota as the Mankato West High School assistant varsity and head junior varsity coach.
Each position has resulted in unique experiences that he would not trade for anything.
When then-superintendent Ron Parker wanted to start a girls soccer team at Bangor High School, Yunke stepped up.
“It was a situation where I know quite a few people in the soccer culture, and at least four of them turned down the job so it fell to the old guy,” quipped Yunke, who had started club programs from scratch when he lived in Holland.
“I went out and got some good people to help me.”
The first season, Yunke had 25 girls on the team and “maybe one knew how to play soccer,” he said. “I had to go to a charity group in Holland and get totes full of cleats to give out to the girls because they were showing up for tryouts in sandals.
“They had never worn cleats, shin guards. They had played soccer in the backyard with their siblings, but none of them knew anything about soccer.”
That first season, eight years ago, the team won two games – both against junior varsity teams.
Three years ago, Yunke took the job in Mankato to be closer to his grandchildren.
“My two adult sons (Justin and Corey) live in the Twin Cities area in Minnesota and my two grandchildren (Lydia and Lauren) live there,” he said.
“The reason I was looking for something to do there is that when I called my boys and said I wanted to come to stay for a couple weeks or a month, I sensed a lot of panic that neither one of them wanted Dad around for that long.”
The Minnesota girls season runs from Aug. 10 through Nov. 10 which fit perfectly with the Michigan soccer season. So Yunke started looking for a fall job. He discovered a few schools were looking for soccer coaches.
“Two days before their season started, the Mankato Scarlets called me and asked if I was still interested because the person they had selected had to back out,” he recalled.
“They were desperate and had to take the old guy.”
Last season, Class A Mankato ended the year with a 19-3 record, losing in the Minnesota state final.
“Since I arrived in 2014, neither the varsity nor JV has had a losing season,” Yunke said. “They are a talented group of dedicated, committed, hard-working girls.”
Yunke’s junior varsity team was 11-2 in the fall, scoring 89 goals and allowing just eight. In six games, opponents never got off a shot, Yunke said.
"Our JV has continued to thrive under Dennis' leadership,” Mankato varsity coach Chrissy Makela said. “We had a strong JV before he arrived, and he has continued that tradition.
“While that might seem an easy task, Dennis doesn't see these kids the other eight or nine months out of the year as he is in Michigan.”
She said Yunke brings passion and knowledge about the game to the program.
“He is constantly seeking new ideas and learning about the game,” she said. “Then he shares his ideas with the rest of the staff.
“He has some unique team-building exercises with his JV that are different than varsity. This way his team can distinguish themselves as a group, and whatever we do with varsity does not seem redundant to the players.”
Coaching in two states provides several challenges for Yunke, especially since his wife, DeeDee, a medical secretary, stays in Bangor.
Living in a tent
Living arrangements posed a big problem since “they don’t pay enough money to go out and rent an apartment short-term,” he said.
“The first year, I actually camped in a campground in a tent and just loved it. As it got colder, one of the parents came up and said they wanted me to come stay with them.
“I stayed with them next year and last year stayed with the varsity coach. Essentially, I just throw myself out to look for a host family. I kind of hold a sign saying ‘Homeless Coach.’”
He gets back to Bangor at least once during the three fall months and uses email and social media to keep in touch.
“I remind the girls of any soccer events they may be interested in as well as keep an eye on the players who are playing fall and winter sports,” he said.
A Class C school, Bangor has no junior varsity team, so freshmen begin their high school careers on varsity.
Because of that lack of experience, Yunke started a feeder program in the middle school three years ago.
“Tony Keh took over the second year of middle school,” Yunke said. “He has solidified that middle school program. We have five very talented middle school players who will be freshmen next year.”
Mary Spade, Bangor’s athletic director, said Yunke loves soccer – and it shows.
“He brings years of experience, knowledge of the sport, dedication off the charts and loyalty and compassion for coaching,” she said. “He’s very dedicated.”
The Vikings lost five seniors, including leading scorer Maggie Ring (24 goals, 20 assists), from last year’s team that went 7-10.
“We lost the heart of the team,” Yunke said. “Our leading scorer, midfield leader and defensive leader.”
But this year’s team has started 4-1-1. Junior Madi McGuire leads with eight goals, senior Megan Watkins has seven and senior co-captain Janet Ibarra six.
Although “soccer is soccer,” Yunke said there are some big differences between his two teams.
“The difference has a lot to do culturally and socio-economically,” he said. “The girls in Mankato have more opportunities when it comes to clinics and training. They all play club soccer, they all go to camps in the summer.
“Sometimes we have to hold off on our tryouts because they’re in Europe playing soccer. They go for three or four weeks, going on tours and playing against European clubs. There’s just a lot of opportunities there that these (Bangor) girls just don’t have.”
'Soccer is Soccer'
“The level of competition (in Minnesota) is much higher,” he said. “Every game is a dog fight because you’re playing against a pretty level playing field.
“(In Michigan) it’s up and down. The Kalamazoo area schools have more club players. The kids are better funded. We don’t have that (in Bangor). What we do have is a really great fighting spirit. These girls have a lot of heart, and that’s what I like about them.”
Even the way the girls address their coaches is different.
“(In Bangor) they call me Coach,” he said. “In Minnesota they asked me what I wanted to be called. I said Coach because that’s what I’m used to being called.
“They said, Nah, we’re going to call you Dennis. They call the varsity coach Mac.”
The Bangor players also have chocolate milk, courtesy of the United Dairy Industry of Michigan.
“They granted us with $1,100 for the season, and I go out and get the chocolate milk and give the girls a cooler full of chocolate milk every day," Spade said. "It’s very good for recovery. We wouldn’t be able to do it without the grant.”
Senior co-captain Gisella Lorenzo said the guaranteed refreshment also serves as good incentive.
“We have it after every practice and every game,” she said. “I think that’s what pushes us, and we look forward to the end of practice.”
Lorenzo was one of the girls who had never played soccer before trying out for the team as a freshman.
“I didn’t really know anything,” she said. “In the beginning of the season, Coach sets up drills and usually there are captains already set up.
“Coach and captains work together to show us how to pass balls and communicate with each other.”
Ibarra said Yunke uses 10 core values to bond the team.
“We do a lot of team bonding, and that really helps us work together as a team,” she said. “That’s very important. We really use those values throughout the season.”
Yunke said the Bangor community is a soccer community, and “our fans are great. I hope I can coach forever. I’m having a ball.”
Other seniors on the team are Brenda Garcia, Olivia Moore and Taylor Watkins.
Other juniors are Nina Ring and Sam Zordan.
Sophomores are Yasmeen Burton, Marilin Carrillo, Elena Guel and Laisha Ramirez. Freshmen are Maritza Barajas, Jennifer Garcia, Jocelyn Ponce, Jennifer Quinones, Bella Amarissa Serratos and Summer Torres.
Pam Shebest served as a sportswriter at the Kalamazoo Gazette from 1985-2009 after 11 years part-time with the Gazette while teaching French and English at White Pigeon High School. She can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Bangor girls soccer coach Dennis Yunke shares a light moment with, from left, Gisella Lorenzo, Olivia Moore and Janet Ibarra. (Middle top) Yunke, Mankato West girls varsity coach Christina Makela, Bangor athletic director Mary Spade. (Middle below) Yunke walks the field at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis before Mankato West’s state championship game. (Below) Ibarra pushes the ball upfield during a game. (Bangor and Mankato soccer practice and game photos courtesy of Dennis Yunke.)
Preview: Ramping Up for Rematches
June 14, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
This weekend will feature a first-time scenario in MHSAA girls soccer, and one certainly rare in any sport at any level:
The Division 2, 3 and 4 championships games Friday or Saturday at Williamston High School will be rematches of the same Finals from 2017. Grand Blanc is back in Division 1 and has a rematch ahead as well – against Novi, which followed the Bobcats in league play earlier this spring.
Following is this weekend’s schedule:
Division 1 - Friday - 4 p.m.
Grand Blanc vs. Novi
Division 2 - Saturday - 4 p.m.
Bloomfield Hills Marian vs. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern
Division 3 - Saturday - 1 p.m.
Flint Powers Catholic vs. Freeland
Division 4 - Friday - 1 p.m.
Kalamazoo Christian vs. Lansing Christian
Tickets cost $8. Radio broadcasts of all games can be heard online at MHSAAnetwork.com. All games will be streamed live online at MHSAA.TV and viewable on subscription basis.
All statistics below are through Regionals. (Click for links to brackets and scores.)
Division 1
GRAND BLANC
Record/rank: 27-1, No. 4
Coach: Greg Kehler, 20th season (326-88-57)
League finish: Second in Kensington Lakes Activities Association Gold
Championship history: Three runner-up finishes (most recent 2017).
Players to watch: Paige Webber, jr. F (33 goals, 15 assists); Faith Webber, soph. F (25 goals, 17 assists); Madison McKay, jr. GK (0.38 goals-against average, 18 shutouts); Ashton Cassell, sr. M (15 goals, 8 assists).
Outlook: Grand Blanc will play in its second championship game in three seasons, its only defeat this spring coming early to No. 2 Brighton. The Bobcats have yet to give up a postseason goal after six games including wins over No. 8 Midland and No. 18 Rochester Adams. Cassell and Paige Webber have been named to the all-state first team, Faith Webber made the second, McKay, senior mid Morgan Metzger (8 goals/15 assists) and junior mid Allyson Childers (2/8) made the third and senior defenders Morgan Jewell and Lara Wheeler earned honorable mentions. Sophomore forward Jenna Blackburn added another 16 goals and 10 assists heading into the week.
NOVI
Record/rank: 18-5-1, No. 6
Coach: Todd Pheiffer, fourth season (56-17-4)
League finish: Third in KLAA Gold
Championship history: Five MHSAA titles (most recent 2011).
Players to watch: Avery Fenchel, soph. F (20 goals, 9 assists); Jessie Bandyk, jr. M (12 goals/10 assists); Callie Rich, sr. GK (0.98 GAA, 11 shutouts); Emmie Takada, sr. M (4 goals, 1 assist).
Outlook: After finishing third in the same league as Grand Blanc, Novi went on to win its second Regional in three seasons. The Wildcats eliminated No. 14 Northville, No. 15 Saline and No. 20 Canton on the way to this championship game. Bandyk, Fenchel and Rich all have been named to the all-state first team, while Takada, junior defender Lauren Calhoun and freshman defender Eva Burns earned honorable mentions. Junior forward Julia Stadtherr is another valuable scorer, tallying 14 goals heading into this week.
Division 2
BLOOMFIELD HILLS MARIAN
Record/rank: 21-0-1, No. 1
Coach: Barry Brodsky, 17th season (317-26-36)
League finish: First in Detroit Catholic League Central.
Championship history: Six MHSAA titles (most recent 2017), three runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Jansen Eichenlaub, jr. F (31 goals, 10 assists); Annie Bruce, sr. M (15 goals, 8 assists); Claudia Schilling, sr. M (9 goals, 21 assists); Sara Stroud, jr. M (3 goals, 11 assists).
Outlook: Marian earned its first championship since 2012 last season to move into third alone for most titles in MHSAA girls soccer history. The Mustangs have given up only nine goals and just one over six postseason games while facing No. 4 DeWitt and No. 9 Trenton among others. Bruce, Eichenlaub and Schilling have been named to the all-state first team, while Stroud made the second, junior defender Neve Badalow the third and sophomore forward Chloe Aberlarde (14 goals, 10 assists) and senior defender Emme DeConinck earned honorable mentions. Freshman Maria Askounis added 10 goals and nine assists entering the week.
GRAND RAPIDS FOREST HILLS NORTHERN
Record/rank: 19-5, No. 3
Coach: Daniel Siminski, fifth season (87-16-10)
League finish: Second in Ottawa-Kent Conference White.
Championship history: Three runner-up finishes (most recent 2017).
Players to watch: Elyse DeSchryver, soph. M/F (17 goals, 3 assists); Addie Brown, soph. M (13 goals, 19 assists); Credence White, sr. M (9 goals, 2 assists); Sophia Terzes, sr. M (4 goals, 5 assists).
Outlook: Forest Hills Northern is aiming for its first championship after finishing runner-up the last two years, and with a few of last season’s standouts setting the pace again. Brown led the team in goals in 2017 and has been named to the all-state second team this season, while DeSchryver made the third team. Terzes also is a past all-stater. After winning the Regional Final in a shootout against Spring Lake, FHN downed No. 2 Richland Gull Lake in overtime in the Semifinal. The Rangers also eliminated No. 7 Lowell, No. 8 Ada Forest Hills Eastern and No. 18 Middleville Thornapple Kellogg during this run.
Division 3
FLINT POWERS CATHOLIC
Record/rank: 22-1-3, No. 1
Coach: Art Moody, 11th season (207-41-20)
League finish: First in Saginaw Valley League.
Championship history: Two MHSAA titles (most recent 2017), six runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Sophie Bubnar, sr. F (23 goals, 31 assists); Rachel Rasins, jr. F (35 goals, 16 assists), Madeline Cardinal, sr. M (11 goals, 20 assists); Natalie Deitering, soph. GK (0.79 GAA, 15 shutouts).
Outlook: Powers will play in its third straight championship game after winning its first title last season since 2011. The Chargers have 19 shutouts and haven’t given up a goal during the postseason while averaging more than six goals per playoff game. They’ve defeated No. 6 Warren Regina, No. 9 Montrose, No. 10 Birch Run and No. 11 Williamston along the way. Bubnar, Cardinal and Raisins made the all-state first team, while Deitering and freshman defender Kate Cardinal made the second team, junior midfielder Camryn Murlick (7 goals, 7 assists) made the third and junior Dominique Amato (17 goals, 12 assists) earned an honorable mention. Junior forward Kennedy Myers added 13 goals and 10 assists heading into the week; she and Amato are high-scoring subs.
FREELAND
Record/rank: 22-4, No. 18
Coach: Lauren Kemerer, fifth season (103-12-4)
League finish: First in Tri-Valley Conference Central.
Championship history: Division 3 runner-up 2017.
Players to watch: Mackenzie Stroebel, sr. F (30 goals, 10 assists); Autumn Kloha, jr. F (26 goals, 13 assists); Kayler Radaz, sr. M (11 goals, 7 assists); Erin Tyson, jr. M (15 goals, 14 assists).
Outlook: Freeland cruised through most of its first five postseason games without giving up a goal, then allowed one in upsetting No. 4 Grand Rapids Catholic Central in the Semifinal. A number of this season’s top contributors helped the Falcons to their first MHSAA championship game a year ago. Kloha and Stroebel have been named all-state first team, while Radaz and Tyson earned honorable mentions. Junior Madeline Boyes (16 goals, 3 assists) fills out a group of talented forwards, while junior Emerson Lynch (11 goals, 10 assists) comes off the bench to supply the midfield.
Division 4
KALAMAZOO CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 18-2-5, No. 3
Coach: Jay Allen, fourth season (91-15-11)
League finish: Tied for first in Southwestern Athletic Conference
Championship history: Four MHSAA titles (most recent 2008), Division 4 runner-up 2017.
Players to watch: Kayla Beebe, jr. F; Lauryn Mohney, soph. M; Elise VanSparrentak, jr. D; Emma Bertrand, jr. M. (Statistics not submitted).
Outlook: Kalamazoo Christian returned to the championship round last season for the first time since winning Division 4 in 2008, and Beebe is back after also helping that team to the season’s final day. She made the all-state first team this spring, while Mohney made the second, VanSparrentak the third and Bertrand and sophomore keeper Jenna Blackwell earned honorable mentions. Kalamazoo Christian was one of the few to score this season on top-ranked North Muskegon, going on to win a Semifinal shootout to advance, and the Comets also beat No. 6 Kalamazoo Hackett during this tournament run.
LANSING CHRISTIAN
Record/rank: 18-3-2, No. 2
Coach: Joel Vande Kopple, 12th season (189-49-15)
League finish: First in Greater Lansing Activities Conference.
Championship history: Division 4 champion 2017, two runner-up finishes.
Players to watch: Kasey Jamieson, jr. F (53 goals, 18 assists); Jenna Li, sr. M (17 goals, 21 assists); Kealeigh Usiak, jr. D (3 goals, 1 assist); Lynn Cullens, sr. GK (0.73 GAA, 15 shutouts).
Outlook: The Pilgrims broke through for their first championship last season and have made at least the Semifinals five straight seasons. Jamieson will finish among the leading scorers in MHSAA history and made the all-state first team with Li and Cullens. Usiak made the second team, and junior midfielder Eliza Lewis earned an honorable mention. Lansing Christian shut out No. 7 Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett in a Semifinal, its fifth shutout in five tournament games while also defeating No. 5 Manchester and No. 18 Dansville among others.
PHOTO: Lansing Christian’s Kasey Jamieson (11) moves the ball upfield during last season’s Division 4 Final against Kalamazoo Christian.